“Social networking over the internet has taken the world by storm- revolutionizing the way people communicate by allowing users to publish their private lives on a world stage. A study conducted by the Pew Research Centre revealed that: As of August 2009, Facebook was the most popular online social network for American adults.” [1] With positives of social networking comes the problems and flaws that the majority of users are unaware of; the articles that make up the basis of this analysis explain in greater detail just what can go wrong. The first journal article is “Friend request or Foe? Confirming the misuse of internet and social networking sites by domestic violence perpetrators” By Laurie L. Baughman, who is a Senior Attorney at the Pennsylvania Coalition against domestic violence. The second journal article is “I gave up MySpace for Lent: New Teachers and Social Networking Sites” By William Kist a teacher at Kent State University, Kent, Ohio. Both articles relate to the problems of social networking but take on completely different aspects.
“Friend request or Foe? Confirming the misuse of internet and social networking sites by domestic violence perpetrators” is an article written by a senior attorney on the use of social networking in domestic violence situations. The author discusses the vulnerability of a victim of domestic violence to be further harassed or bullied through such mediums, as FaceBook and MySpace the world’s most used online social networks. “The use of social networking sites is especially appealing because users can avail themselves to many different applications in one place; social networking sites rely on connections and communication, so they encourage you to provide a certain amount of personal information. It is this personal information- both held by the site provider and posted either by the user or by friends and family of that user- that can be source of weakness for victims of domestic violence.” [2] This provides evidence that there are flaws of the social networking sites and gives an example of what can happen for it to become an issue not only for victims of domestic violence, but for the perpetrators who use this aid to follow their victim without leaving their computer. Although this article does illustrate some flaws to the system it also made note that there are positives to the use of social networking to help a victim of domestic violence.
The journal article “Friend request or Foe” by Laurie L. Baughman did display negatives of social networking but it also presents positives to social networking to help victims of domestic violence. In recent years with the growing problem of domestic violence the way we use internet has changed to help suit the demanding need for support and advice to aid victims in all areas of domestic violence. “Victims of domestic violence indicated that they use the internet for money management or online banking, to search for housing, to look for a job” [3] as well joining online social networks for support and advice. So there are defiantly both benefits and flaws discussed in the journal article by Laurie L. Baughman but this article only covers one part of the problems of social networking, the article “I gave up MySpace for Lent: New Teachers and Social Networking Sites” By William Kist covers a different area of the problems of social networking.
One of the topics raised in the article “I gave up MySpace for Lent” is the rising concern for preservice teachers and their use of social networking. “Just as we stand on the brink of what may, in the next decade or so, be the first real evolution of public schools in close to 100 years, we are telling teachers “You can’t participate in Web 2.0 because it’s too dangerous.”” [4] The fear factor with web 2.0 which mainly consist of social networking sites is that if a student finds a teachers profile and there is inappropriate material found it will have serious consequences on the teacher’s career. “Principles are googling for information on undergrads before they are allowed into their buildings for student teaching.” [5] This links to the issue of online social networking and what is appropriate for our teachers to be using and what the rising problems and issues for social networking. But although the article “I gave up MySpace for Lent” has a negative side to social networking it also has a comparison side where there are positives to having a connection with students via Web 2.0 sites.
One of the positives introduced by the article which has a encouraging attitude in the way it may help students better themselves and achieve a better result, it may even help students personally make them feel better about themselves because someone does care about them. One of the students interviewed for the article states “Why society is so frightened of teachers having genuine relationships with students (mentors and friends). Developing a trust in their teachers and having a genuine relationship with a teacher helps a student to get the best education he or she can, because it helps the teacher to understand the individual student and his or her needs. If we forget the basic cause of education, it’s all a lost cause.” [6] Some students need extra help or support and this article takes that into mind as it approaches both sides of the issues of social networking.
This analysis as demonstrated that social networking is not a simple issue. There are many different aspects, both problems and benefits. As shown that although domestic violence has been taken to a whole new level with the use of social networking, being able to track down and further harm victims but that there is a positive and that there are available supports groups, that use online social networking sites. I have also argued that there are problems with social networking sites for future and current teachers, with the danger of embarrassing or inappropriate pictures or comments made but that the use of social networking, could also be a powerful tool to help bring teachers and students together, thus resulting in better relationships and in the end helping the students achieve more in their education. The implications of this issue are that we must be aware of what and how we present ourselves online, not only to protect ourselves but anyone that may have consequences from our actions. Our next steps should be to further educate and display a positive image across the internet, and to also have the knowledge and means to protect ourselves better online.
References
[1] [2] [3]
Bauchman. Laurie L. "FRIEND REQUEST OR FOE? Confirming the misuse of internet and social networking sites by domestic violence perpetrators" Widener Law Journal 19, no 3 (June 2010) : 933-966 Academic Search Premier EBSCO host (accessed July 12, 2010)
[4] [5] [6]
Kist. William. "I gave up MySpace for Lent: New Teachers and Social Networking Site" Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy (November 2008) : 245 -247 Academic Search Premier EBSCO host (accessed July 12, 2010)
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